By Becky Hardin
Updated Aug 7, 2025
These easy Chocolate Peanut Butter Lava Cakes give the feel of a 5-star restaurant in the comfort of your own home. I can’t get over how delicious, indulgent, and shockingly simple they are to prepare. I’ve added another twist—peanut butter—and it’s so good!
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5-Star Review
“These were delicious! The middle of mine fell quite a bit during the 10 minute cooling period, but I’m 99% sure that was because it’s so cold in my apartment, not because of the recipe. They were still fantastic! Thanks for sharing the recipe.” – Whit
Chocolate Peanut Butter Lava Cakes Recipe
Chocolate Lava Cakes—so what are they, exactly? To me, they’re the most intense, rich, and downright delicious chocolate cakes you’ll ever eat. And when you add peanut butter to the mix? Game over.
I love how these little cakes have a soft, cakey exterior that gives way to a warm, gooey, molten chocolate-peanut butter center. Every bite feels indulgent and comforting. Best of all, I can whip them up with pantry staples and have them on the table in about 30 minutes. They’re my go-to when I want something that feels fancy without the fuss!
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder 5g
- ▢ 5 tbsp all-purpose flour 38g, divided
- ▢ 9 tbsp unsalted butter 127g, room temperature and divided (1⅛ stick)
- ▢ 6 oz. German baking chocolate 170g, chopped*
- ▢ 3 tbsp creamy peanut butter 51g, low-fat, or any nut butter
- ▢ 1 tbsp powdered sugar 7g
- ▢ ½ cup granulated sugar 100g
- ▢ 3 large eggs 150g, room temperature
- ▢ 1 pinch kosher salt
Video
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F.
- Spray each ramekin with nonstick spray/olive oil. Mix 1 tbsp of flour with the cocoa powder. Coat the inside of each ramekin with this flour mixture and tap off the excess. 1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder, 5 tbsp all-purpose flour
- In a medium saucepan, melt 1 stick (8 tbsp) of butter with the German chocolate over very low heat, stirring occasionally. Once it is melted and mixed completely, take it off the heat and allow it to cool for a couple of minutes. 9 tbsp unsalted butter, 6 oz. German baking chocolate
- In a medium bowl, using a hand mixer, blend the peanut butter with the powdered sugar and the remaining 1 tbsp of butter. Set aside. 3 tbsp creamy peanut butter, 1 tbsp powdered sugar
- In another bowl, use a hand mixer to beat the granulated sugar with the eggs and salt at medium-high speed until thick and pale yellow, around 3 minutes. Turn off the mixer and fold in the chocolate, using a spatula. Blend until no streaks remain. Fold in the remaining flour and salt, and mix until smooth. ½ cup granulated sugar, 3 large eggs, 1 pinch kosher salt
- Spoon two-thirds of the batter into the prepared ramekins, then place a large spoonful of the peanut butter mixture into the middle. Top with more chocolate batter. Leave about 2 centimeters at the top of the ramekin to allow for the cake to rise.
- Bake for 14-16 minutes, or until the top is crispy/cracked and the middle is still slightly jiggly. Take out of the oven and allow to cool for about 10 minutes.
- Run the tip of a thin knife around each cake to loosen. Invert a small plate over each cake and using pot holders, invert again. Carefully lift the ramekins off the hot cakes.
- Dust the warm cakes with powdered sugar and serve right away. These are also great with vanilla ice cream!
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
- 4 Ramekin(s)
- Hand Mixer
Becky’s Tips
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Chocolate Lava Cakes With Peanut Butter Step by Step
Prepare the ramekins and oven: Spray each ramekin with nonstick spray/olive oil. Mix 1 tbsp of flour with 1 tbsp cocoa powder. Coat the inside of each ramekin with this flour mixture and tap off the excess. Preheat the oven to 425°F.
Melt the chocolate: In a medium saucepan, melt 1 stick (8 tbsp) of butter with 6 oz. German chocolate over very low heat, stirring occasionally. Once it is melted and mixed completely, take it off the heat and allow it to cool for a couple of minutes.
Blend peanut butter and sugar: In a medium bowl, using a hand mixer, blend 3 tbsp peanut butter with 1 tbsp powdered sugar and the remaining 1 tbsp of butter. Set aside.
Create the batter: In another bowl, use a hand mixer to beat ½ cup granulated sugar with 3 eggs and a pinch of salt at medium-high speed until thick and pale yellow, around 3 minutes. Turn off the mixer and fold in the chocolate, using a spatula. Blend until no streaks remain. Fold in the remaining 4 tbsp flour and a pinch of salt, and mix until smooth.
Transfer to ramekins: Spoon two-thirds of the batter into the prepared ramekins, then place a large spoonful of the peanut butter mixture into the middle. Top with more chocolate batter. Leave about 2 centimeters at the top of the ramekin to allow for the cake to rise.
Bake for 14-16 minutes, or until the top is crispy/cracked and the middle is still slightly jiggly. Take out of the oven and allow to cool for about 10 minutes.
Run the tip of a thin knife around each cake to loosen. Invert a small plate over each cake and, using pot holders, invert again. Carefully lift the ramekins off the hot cakes.
Dust and serve : Dust the warm cakes with powdered sugar and serve right away. These are also great with vanilla ice cream!
How to Store
These lava cakes are meant to be eaten right away, but if you can’t manage to finish the whole lava cake, you can transfer it to an airtight container and store it in the fridge for 3-4 days. When you are ready to eat it again, pop it in the microwave to warm through.
Serving Suggestions
Though these lava cakes are super decadent as they are, if you want to take it up a notch, you can serve them with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or for more flavor, try pumpkin ice cream or this cream cheese based red velvet ice cream .
More chocolate Desserts You May Like
Easy Churros Recipe with Chocolate Sauce (Gluten Free Churros!)
Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies (Soft and Chewy!)
Chocolate Fudge
Gooey Texas Chocolate Sheet Cake Skillet
Chocolate Peanut Butter Lava Cakes
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
- 4 Ramekin(s)
- Hand Mixer
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder 5g
- 5 tbsp all-purpose flour 38g, divided
- 9 tbsp unsalted butter 127g, room temperature and divided (1⅛ stick)
- 6 oz. German baking chocolate 170g, chopped*
- 3 tbsp creamy peanut butter 51g, low-fat, or any nut butter
- 1 tbsp powdered sugar 7g
- ½ cup granulated sugar 100g
- 3 large eggs 150g, room temperature
- 1 pinch kosher salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F.
- Spray each ramekin with nonstick spray/olive oil. Mix 1 tbsp of flour with the cocoa powder. Coat the inside of each ramekin with this flour mixture and tap off the excess. 1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder, 5 tbsp all-purpose flour
- In a medium saucepan, melt 1 stick (8 tbsp) of butter with the German chocolate over very low heat, stirring occasionally. Once it is melted and mixed completely, take it off the heat and allow it to cool for a couple of minutes. 9 tbsp unsalted butter, 6 oz. German baking chocolate
- In a medium bowl, using a hand mixer, blend the peanut butter with the powdered sugar and the remaining 1 tbsp of butter. Set aside. 3 tbsp creamy peanut butter, 1 tbsp powdered sugar
- In another bowl, use a hand mixer to beat the granulated sugar with the eggs and salt at medium-high speed until thick and pale yellow, around 3 minutes. Turn off the mixer and fold in the chocolate, using a spatula. Blend until no streaks remain. Fold in the remaining flour and salt, and mix until smooth. ½ cup granulated sugar, 3 large eggs, 1 pinch kosher salt
- Spoon two-thirds of the batter into the prepared ramekins, then place a large spoonful of the peanut butter mixture into the middle. Top with more chocolate batter. Leave about 2 centimeters at the top of the ramekin to allow for the cake to rise.
- Bake for 14-16 minutes, or until the top is crispy/cracked and the middle is still slightly jiggly. Take out of the oven and allow to cool for about 10 minutes.
- Run the tip of a thin knife around each cake to loosen. Invert a small plate over each cake and using pot holders, invert again. Carefully lift the ramekins off the hot cakes.
- Dust the warm cakes with powdered sugar and serve right away. These are also great with vanilla ice cream!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
